Shank stiffener



Ma 28,1929. P. J. wEN ll'wOR'i 'H 2 1,715,050 I I snANx STIFFENERY Filed June 10, 1925 Patented May 28, .1929.

UNirEosrA'rss PEARL J. ,WENTWORTH, or'ronr TnoivrAs, xnnrtior'zy.

- SHANK srrrnnnnn.

Applfeation filed rune 10, 1925. Serial No. 36,257..

My invention relates to shoes andisparticularly directed to a shank stiffener-for the same.- v

One object of my'invention is to providejAnother object of my invention is toprovide a shank stiffener for a shoe, the flexibility of which will vary longitudinally. I

- Another object of my, invention is to' pro-.

'vide a shankstiffener for a shoe, one size of which shank stiffener can be used in shoes of different lengths.

Other objects and certain advantages will i appear in the description of the drawings forming a part of this application in which drawings:

Figure 1 1s a-perspective view of my im-.

7 size shank stiffener to be used on various sized shoes, "it being immaterial just. how far back over the heel seat the shankstiffener extends.

proved form of arch support. 7

' Figure 2 isaside view of a shoe showing the arch support applied thereto, certain parts of the shoe being broken away to show the position of the arch support. v

Figure 3 is alongitudinal sectional view of the arch support.

Figure 4 is a bottom View of a shoe showing the arch support positioned on the insole.

A shoe 1 is provided with an upper 2, in-

- sole 3, an outsole 4, a'heel 5, and a sock lining 6. A shank stiffener 7 is placed between the insole and the outsole atthc archportion or shank of the shoe. This shank stiffener is of novel structure being made preferably from I a single strip of flexiblefmetal doubled back upon itself forming a two layer structure for part of its length anda single layer structure for the rest of its length. The shank spring. These two layers are heldtogether in any'convenient manner, such as by a tongue 9 bent from the metal of one layer extendmg through an aperture 10 of the other layer.

The two layer end of the shank is adapted to mum;sweepj be securely attached to the heel of the shoe j by means of a nail 11 driven through anelon gated aperture 12 from the heel end of :the'.

shank stiffener,'likewise through the insole,

outsole and into the heel. A forward or single layerportion of the shank extends just to the ground engaging portion of the shoe; The shank stiffener is bent to conform to the desired arch of the'shoe and functions asa" spring board anchored to the heel; the spring board being more flexible at its forward end firm mooring at the end of the heel'prevents .the rear end of the shank stiffener from tilting, andcon'sequently tending to pry the insole'and outsole apart. The shank stiffener is provided with an eyelet 8' through which passes a tack securing the stiffener to the inwhere the degree of arch is diminished. The

Theelongated aperture permits the same For. instance, one size shank stiffener can be stifiiener for each different size shoe.

A shank stiffener of this structure is par ticula-rly adapted for ladies high heel shoes.

Having described my invention I claim A shoe shank comprising aflat narrow strip of metal bent upon itself, with one end extending beyond the other providing a pair of j 1 spring leaves of relatively different lengths,'

and a tangextending from one leaf clinched "through an aperture in the other securing the leaves together intermediate of their'length',

providing a rigid double layer rear portion and a flexible fowa rd portion.

* In witness whereof, hereunto subscribe my name.

PEARL J. WENTWORTH. i 

